diff --git a/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/core.inc b/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/core.inc
index a35ec3243..f3c57f811 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/core.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/core.inc
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ function core_cron()
 
     foreach ((new OPNsense\Backup\BackupFactory())->listProviders() as $classname => $provider) {
         if ($provider['handle']->isEnabled()) {
-            $jobs[]['autocron'] = array('/usr/local/sbin/configctl -d system remote backup', 0, 1);
+            $jobs[]['autocron'] = array('/usr/local/sbin/configctl -d system remote backup 3600', 0, 1);
             break;
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/opnsense/scripts/system/remote_backup.php b/src/opnsense/scripts/system/remote_backup.php
index 14f6ba81e..c88d9d93f 100755
--- a/src/opnsense/scripts/system/remote_backup.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/scripts/system/remote_backup.php
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@ require_once('script/load_phalcon.php');
 
 use OPNsense\Backup\BackupFactory;
 
+/* add random delay in seconds */
+$random_delay = !empty($argv[1]) ? $argv[1] : null;
+if (!empty($random_delay)) {
+    sleep(rand(0, $random_delay));
+}
+
 $backupFact = new BackupFactory();
 foreach ($backupFact->listProviders() as $classname => $provider) {
     if ($provider['handle']->isEnabled()) {
diff --git a/src/opnsense/service/conf/actions.d/actions_system.conf b/src/opnsense/service/conf/actions.d/actions_system.conf
index f9fc64191..36d49782e 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/service/conf/actions.d/actions_system.conf
+++ b/src/opnsense/service/conf/actions.d/actions_system.conf
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ message:List SSL ciphers
 
 [remote.backup]
 command:/usr/local/opnsense/scripts/system/remote_backup.php
-parameters:
+parameters: %s
 type:script
 message:Performing remote backup
 description:Remote backup